Page 74 of Dirty

Then, everything went black.

TWENTY-TWO

Lex

I was sure I wasn’t falling in love, but I was definitely falling in something. Thoughts of Adam consumed me, and every memory my mind resurrected was enjoyable in one way or another.

“I’ll take the second special,” he said with a tooth revealing smile.

He looked like a Silicon Valley executive. Dressed in a gray suit that was undoubtedly custom-tailored – and expensive – he wore a slight beard and his hair was a perfect mess. He scooted his chair away from the table slightly and looked me up and down.

“The baked shrimp, scallops, and fish with the lobster sauce?” I asked, acting like I didn’t notice his eye-assault.

He shot me an apprehensive look. “Is it good?”

I smiled. “You know, I could say it’s lovely, then you’d order it, and you’d be wondering while you waited for it to arrive if you’d made the right decision. You’d also probably wonder if I’d even tried it, wouldn’t you?”

He flashed his teeth again. They were as perfect as his hair. “I don’t know,” he said. “Probably.”

“Well, I have tried it. And although I won’t tell you everything on the menu is my favorite, I’ll tell you that one is one of my top three. It’s delicious, it really is. And, the scallops are huge.”

“I’m convinced,” he said.

“Today, it comes with the green beans. Are you okay with that, or would you like to substitute?”

“Are they--”

“If you like fresh green beans, you’ll love them.”

“I’ll stick with the green beans.”

“Anything else?”

“This is going to sound awful, but you’re simply gorgeous,” he said.

I forced a smile, and hoped it looked genuine. “Awe. Thank you.”

“There is one more thing,” he said. His gaze shifted to my left hand, and then met mine.

My number?

I cocked my head to the side. “Yes?”

“Your number. I’d regret it if I didn’t at least ask. I’d love an opportunity to see you away from work.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m in a serious relationship.”

He smiled and nodded. “He’s a lucky man.”

“I don’t know about that,” I said. “But I’m a very lucky girl.”

He grinned a shallow grin and moved his chair closer to the table.

“I’ll bring some bread by. If you need more, just throw something at me to get my attention,” I said.

He chuckled and raised his butter knife. “I’ll do that.”

As I placed his order I thought of Adam, and what he might think if he knew the man asked me for my number. I decided he would think it was cute that it happened, and would appreciate my response. If the man asking had been disrespectful, I was sure his reaction would be otherwise.